CAMRY DEAN
Staff Writer
Starting in Spring 2017, SUNY students will have the opportunity to study abroad in Cyprus at Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) for either one or two semesters. EMU is located in Northern Cyprus and just found itself ranked within the top seven Turkish universities in the world.
Cyprus is a small island in the Mediterranean located near Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt and is surrounded by blue water and breathtaking views.
The university is entirely English-speaking and home to students from over 100 different countries, making it a truly international experience for any student.
Offering courses in programs such as the arts, business, communication, natural sciences, computer science, health sciences and services, social science, humanities and the Turkish language, EMU can be the study abroad university for anyone.
“This is really good for Fredonia students because if you’re a biology major, you could take those courses in a different country, entirely in English,” Assistant Director for Study Abroad Erin Willis said. “Students can also focus on Turkish language, which is great because it’s considered a ‘critical need’ language by the U.S. government.”
Though the program is being offered through Fredonia, it’s open to any student in the SUNY system.
“It’s great because it means we could send other SUNY students on the program,” Willis said. “For example, if a UB student studying architecture wanted to study abroad, they could potentially take courses at this institution in their field.”
Because it’s an exchange program rather than a study abroad program, students will be able to study in Cyprus at a lower cost than most programs.
While studying at EMU, students will be living in residential dorms along with other EMU students, adding to the international exposure.
“Only about 2 percent of American students study abroad, and that’s really low,” said Willis. “As the world is becoming more globalized, it’s important for us to have some cultural competence. There are so many skills you gain from studying abroad, and they might not be learned in the classroom.
“It humanizes the world, and we really need that now,” Willis continued. “We need to have more acceptance, more understanding. It makes us better people, and it makes students more marketable and more professional. It makes you a better-rounded person.”
For more information, students are encouraged to check out Fredonia’s study abroad page, EMU’s website or reach out to Erin Willis directly.